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The Commerce News
JEFFERSON, JACKSON COUNTY GEORGIA 30549 $1.00 COPY
Remembering Sept. 11
Jefferson High School Cadets salute the flag during the Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony.
American Legion members attend the Jefferson High School Sept. 11 memo
rial.
Jefferson High School
held a September 11 remem
brance ceremony this week,
marking the 22nd anniversa
ry of the devastating attacks
on the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon.
The Jefferson High School
Air Force Junior Reserve Of
ficers’ Training (AFJROTC)
played a central role in orga
nizing and participating in
this significant event.
Among the attendees were
local officials, veterans and
first responders, who were
honored guests at the event.
“The ceremony was a
touching tribute to the 2,977
lives lost in the attacks, and it
emphasized the importance
of ensuring that the memory
of 9/11 lives on in the hearts
and minds of future genera
tions,” school leaders said.
“As JHS seniors attended in
person and underclassmen
watched the ceremony via
livestream in their class
rooms, the unity and rever
ence were palpable, demon
strating the enduring impact
of this tragic day.”
Principal Rob McFer-
rin expressed the school’s
commitment to never for
get the events of 9/11.
“Jefferson High School
believes in preserving the
memory of this historic
tragedy, and today’s cere
mony reaffirmed our ded
ication to honoring the
lives lost and the resilience
of our nation,” McFerrin
said.
Jefferson High School AFJROTC Cadets participate in the Sept. 11 ceremony.
MAILING LABEL
Elections
Commerce BOE candidate challenged
A challenge has been filed against a lone person to qualify for the Commerce school
qualifier for the Commerce Board of Edu- board district 5 seat in August,
cation. A hearing will be held on Thursday,
Latosha Perez has filed a challenge Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. at the Commerce Civic
against Cory Griffith, who was the only Center.
County BOE
BOE to set millage
rate, budget Fri.
By Mike Buffington
mike@mainstreetnews. com
The Jackson County Board of Education is poised
to formally adopt its millage rate and FY2024 budget
this week.
The board will have a called meeting Friday at
7:30 a.m. to take final action on both the budget and
millage rate.
Earlier this week, the board held its second public
hearing on its millage rate plans dining its monthly
meeting. Two citizens spoke at the hearing, both com
plaining about high property taxes.
The board is proposing a millage rate of 15.495
mills, down from 16.576 mills last year. That is not,
however, the “rollback rate” that fully takes into ac
count this year’s higher assessments.
Despite the lower millage rate, the school system
will see a $13.3 million increase (28.3%) in local tax
revenues due to growth in the county in addition to the
reassessments.
The system expects to net a total of $60.5 million in
revenues from property taxes, which is about 44% of
its total budget.
The system’s general fund budget for FY2024 is
set at $136 million. In addition to the local tax funds,
school systems also receive state funding and a smaller
amount of federal funds.
Some of the FY2024 budget are funds for the
See BOE,page 2A
Jefferson council
Jefferson council
facing controversial
zoning issue
By Mike Buffington
mike@mainstreetnews. com
A controversial zoning modification request led to a
lengthy discussion during the Jefferson City CounciFs
work session on Sept. 11.
The council is slated to vote on the proposed modi
fication requests at its Sept. 25 meeting.
At issue is an 8-acre tract off of Nelson Dr. between
Hwy. 129 (business) and Storey Ln. But what would
appear to be a simple modification request has created
a complex stew of competing interests that in many
See Jefferson, page 2A
Commerce council
Commerce awarded
grant for tag readers
By Alex Buffington
alex@mainstreetnews.com
Commerce may soon
have a number of tag
reading cameras at main
entryways into the town.
The Commerce Police
Department has been
awarded a state grant for
over $79,000 to fund six
Flock Safety cameras for
a total of four years. The
Commerce City Coun
cil is slated to vote on
the matter at its Sept. 18
meeting.
Flock cameras are sta
tionary cameras that read
tags of vehicles that travel
in the area.
“These are not going to
be speed cameras,” City
Manager James Wascher
told the council Sept. 5.
Commerce Police Chief
Ken Harmon noted these
devices will sit on the side
of the road and ran every
tag that travels past. That
information is then run
against law enforcement
databases and provides
officers with information
on wanted vehicles or
wanted people that are
traveling in the area. The
technology can also help
the department develop
and find suspects for vari
ous crimes.
Several surrounding
municipalities — Hall,
See Commerce, page 2A
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